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Symptom Monitoring in Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated with PARP Inhibitors: Agreement Between Physician- and
Roberta Massobrio1, Daniela Attianese1, Alessandra Testi1
1Academic Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Turin, Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano, 10128 Turin, Italy.
Cancers
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Physician and patient agreement on PARP inhibitor toxicities in ovarian cancer is poor, with physicians often underestimating symptoms like fatigue and arthralgia. Integrating patient-reported outcomes is crucial for accurate toxicity assessment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) offer survival benefits for ovarian cancer patients.
- Maintenance PARPi therapy requires careful tolerability assessment for optimal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate agreement between physician and patient reporting of PARPi-related toxicities.
- To determine the rate of physician underestimation of PARPi-induced symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study included 77 ovarian cancer patients receiving PARPi.
- Patient-reported outcomes were collected using a PRO-CTCAE questionnaire.
- Agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa and Gwet's AC1 statistics.
Main Results:
- Poor agreement (Cohen's kappa < 0.20) was observed for all 12 assessed toxicities.
- Lowest agreement levels were for decreased appetite, rash, headache, arthralgia, insomnia, and fatigue.
- Physician under-reporting rates were high for nausea (51.9%), rash (57.1%), headache (49.3%), arthralgia (70.2%), insomnia (48.1%), and fatigue (67.5%).
Conclusions:
- Systematic integration of patient-reported outcomes is essential for accurate toxicity assessment in PARPi therapy.
- This is particularly important in maintenance settings for ovarian cancer patients.
- Improved symptom reporting can optimize patient outcomes and treatment tolerability.
